Electrical system foe motor vehicles



March 22 1927. l 3622153 4 c. F. KETTERING ET A1.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 9, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1[lg/'121755555 fn UEn Zai/"5 TIC-'HIP iL-'E5 LSZZSS 22 1927. Marc-h c.F. KETTERING ET A1.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Shree?I 2 Filed lJuly 9,1923v ZL/1 12515555v m. f W

Patented Mar. 2, l2?.

CHARLES F. KETTERING AND JOHN H. HUNT, OF DAYTON, OHO, ASSGNORS TO GEN-ERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATON, 0F DAYTON, OHO, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHCLES.

Application filed July 9,

rIhis invention relates to electrical systems for automotive vehiclesand aims to provide current for lighting and ignition without the use ofa storage battery.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figs. l and 3 of the drawings are wiring diagrams showing dierent formsof the invention; Fig. 3 including` a front end elevation of an internalcombustion engine. Fig. 2 shows certain parts of Fig. l in otheroperating positions.

Referring to the Figs. l and 2, an internal combustion engine includes acrank shaft 2l provided with a radially projecting pin 22 which isreceived by the spiral notch 23 in the hollow hub 24 of a starting crank25 which normally is disconnected from the eng Upon the crank shaft 2lthere is loosely mounted a pulley 26 provided with a. lug 27 which isreceived by the notch 23 of handle 25. Pulley 26 is connected by belt 28with pulley 29 which drives a` permanent magnet D. C. generator 30having a shat't 31. rlhis generator may be termed an a xiliarygenerator, and is provided with terminals 32 and 33. As shown in Fig. 2when the crank 25 is moved toward the engine, the notch 23 will receiveboth the pin 22 and the lug 27 thereby connecting the engine 20 with theauxiliary generator 30. lWhen the engine becomes self-operative thecrank 25 will be automatically moved out of driving engagement with thepin 22 and the pulley 26 will be automatically disconnected from theshaft 2l thereby disconnecting the generator 30 from the engine.

The main generator 40 includes brushes 4l and 42 which are connectedrespectively with wires 43 and 44 connected respectively with shuntfield winding 45 and ground 46. The dynamo shunt field excitation iscontrolled by regulator which includes an electromagnet 50, connectedacross the brushes 41 and 42, which attracts an armature 5l against thetension of a spring 52 when the voltage across the brushes exceeds acert-ain amount.

1923. serial no. 650,236.

The regulator contacts 53 and 54 are connected respectively with theshunt field 45 and with ground, the contact 54 being separated fromcontact 53 by the movement of armature 5l toward the magnet 50. Aresistance element 55 is connected in shunt with the contacts 53 and 54.When the voltage between the brushes 4l and 42 exceeds a certain amountthe armature 51 will be attracted to separate the contacts 53 and 54 andto render the resistance element 55 operativel to reduce the current inthe shunt field winding 45. rEhe field excitation and consequently7 thedynamo voltage is regulated in the usual manner of vibratory regulators.

rlhe dynamo 40 is driven by the engine through mechanical connectionsnot shown.

lonition for the engine is provided by means of apparatus including anignition coil having a primary and a secondary 6i connected respectivelywith a timer 62 Iand a distributor 63.

In Fig. l, the primary 60 is connected with a movable switch blade 64adapted to engage either orp the fixed contacts 65 and 66 which areconnected with the wire 43 through switch 65a, and with ground,respectively. Contact 64 normally engages contact 65. rlhe timer 62 isconnected by wire 67 with terminal 32 which is connected by wire 68 witha resilient switch blade 69 carrying a contact 70 which normally engagesa contact 7l which is grounded. The blade 69 carries a non-conductingportion 72 adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 7 3 on crank 25 when thecrank is moved from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shownin Fig. 2. Blade 64 is actuated by blade 69 through a non-conductingblock 69a.

To use the form of the invention shown in Fig. l the operator moves thecrank 25 toward the engine so that the notch 23 receives the pin 22 andthe lugs 27, shown in Fig. 2. The engine is cranked to render itoperative; and, during the cranking of the engine, the dynamo 30 isdriven at a speed sutiicient to furnish current to the ignition coil forthe engine ignition purposes. Movement of crank 25 toward the enginesufficiently to cause the notch 23 to receive the pin 22 and the lug 27,will cause the shoulder 73 of crank 25 to engage the non-conductingportion 72 of blade 69 and to move said blade sufficiently to separatecontacts 70 and 71 as shown in Fig. 2. This movement of blade 69 willcause motion to be transmitted through the non-conducting block 69a tocause blade 64 to be separated from contact 65 and to engage contact 66.During crank ing the following ignition circuit is established:generator 30, terminal 32, wire 67, timer 62, ignition primary `60, wirecontact 64, contact 66, ground connection to terminal 33 and generator30. As soon as the engine becomes self-operative the crank 25 will beautomatically disconnected from the engine by the operation of thespiral notch 23 and the pin 22. The release of the crank from the enginepermits contact blade 69 to return to normal position wherein thecontacts 70 and 71 will be in engagement. At the same time, the blade 64will return into engagement with contact 65. Thilo the engine isself-operative the following ignition circuit is established: brush 41of dynamo 40, wire 43, switch contact 65, blade 64, wire 60, ignitionprimary 60, timer 62, wires 67 and 68, blade 69, contacts and 71, groundconnection to wire 44 and brush 42 of dynamo 40.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connecting withthe engine of a suitable starting device such as a hand crankautomatically connects the auxiliary dynamo with the engine so that theengine may drive said dynamo at the rate sufficient for ignitionpurposes while the engine is loeing cranked. The movement of thestarting crank into driving engagement with the engine causes circuitsto be arranged whereby the auxiliary dynamo can supply current to theignition apparatus sufficient for engine ignition. Therefore, while theengine is bein cranked ignition is being provided. W en the enginebecomes self-operative, the auxiliary dynamo is automaticallydisconnected from the engine and circuits are automatically arrangedwhich cause the main dynamo 40 to supply current to the ignitionapparatus.

1n the form of the invention shown in Fi 3, the auxiliary dynamo 30 ismechanica ly connected with the engine by means independent of thestarting crank. Dynamo 30 Vis mounted on a platform 80 carried by abracket 81 pivoted at 82. The bracket 81 is maintained by spring 83 inengagement with a stop bracket 84. The dynamo pulley 29 is adapted toengage and be driven by a belt 85 encircling the engine driven pulley 86and two other pulleys 87 and 88. Bracket 81 is connected by wire 89 rovearound pulley 90 with a handle 91. Wire 89 is provided with lugs 92 and93 adapted to bear against the branches 94 of a fork member betweenwhich the wire 89 may be located. The platform 80 carries a groundedswitch contact 95 and an insulated switch contact 96 adapted to beengaged by a stationary contact 97 and carries insulated contacts 98 and99, each for engaging a stationary contact blade 100 which is grounded.Wire 101 connects contact 98 with dynamo terminal Dynamo terminal 33 isconnected by wire 102 with contact 99, and by wire 103 with timer 62.Coil 60 is connected by wire 104 with contact 97, and contact 96 isconnected by wire 105 with switch 65a connected with wire 43.

To use the auxiliary dynamo 30 in the form of the invention shown inFig. 3, the operator grasps the knob 91 and pulls the wire 89 away fromthe fork branches 94 and pulls the wire 89 until the knob 92 has beendrawn below the forks 94, and then movesl the knob 92 in to the positioninitially occupied by the knob 93. This movement of the wire 89 willcause the bracket 81 to move to the right against the tension of thespring 83 and the pulley 29 will be moved into frictional engagementwith the belt 85. The engagement of knob 92 with the fork 94 will causethis frictional driving connection to beV maintained. Thile the dynamo30 is con'- nected with the engine the contact 99 is separated fromcontact 100 and the latter is then engaged by the contact 98, andcontact 96 is separated from contact 97 the latter engaging with contact95. While the engine is being cranked the dynamo 30 will be operated ata speed sufficient for ignition purposes. Ignition circuit duringcranking is as follows: dynamo 30, terminal 33, wire 103, timer 62, coil60, wire 104, contact 97, contact 95, ground connection, contact 100,contact 98, wire 101, terminal 32, dynamo 30. As soon as the enginebecomes self-op erative the handle 91 can be removed to release the knob92 from the fork branches 94 permitting the spring 83 to return to thebracket 81 against the stop 84. As shown in Fig. 3, this movement of thebracket 81 will cause the dynamo 30 to be disconnected from the belt 85,contact 98 to be separated from contactl 100, contact 99 to engagecontact 100, contact 95 to be separated from contact 97 and to engage bycont-act 96. lVhile the engine is self-operative the following igni tioncircuits is operated: main dynamo 40, brush 41, wire 43, switch 65, wire105, contacts 96 and 97, wire 104,coil 60, timer 62, wire 103, wireV102,v contacts 99 and 100,

ground connection, wire 44, brush 42 of nected from the engine andcircuits are arranged whereby the main dynamo will supply current to theignition apparatus.

In the forms of the invention shown herein, the wire 43 which carriescurrent from the dynamo i0 to the ignition apparatus may be connectedalso with other work circuits such as circuits including electric lamps110.

The present invention is adapted particularly for automotive vehicleswhere it is desirable to eliminate the storage battery, such ascommercial vehicles using engines which can be readily cranked by hand.The regulation yof the voltage of the dynamo e() is provided by means ofthe voltage regulator shown in the drawings in order that the ignitionand lighting currents mav be substantially uniform over a wide range ofengine speeds.

It is apparent that the present invention is not limited in its use toautomotive electric systems where a storage battery is not used, but mayalso be used in systems where a starting electric motor is used to crankthe engine, the motor being operated by the current from the storagebattery which is charged by the main generator. It happens sometimesthat a storage battery is inadequate to supply current for startino` andfor ignition purposes, hence hand cranking must be resorted to. Underthese circumstances, the present invention can be used advantageously.

While the forms of embodiments of the invention as described constitutespreferred forms, it is to be understood that yother forms might beadopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

l/Vhat we claim is as follows:

l. In combination with ar internal combustion engine having an ignitionsystem including a spark coil having primary and secondary windings, amain generator driven by the engine for supplying current to saidprimary winding when the engine is self operating, an auxiliarygenerator adapted to be operated for supplying current to said primarywinding during cranking of the engine, circuit controlling means andmeans connectible with the engine for cranking purposes and for drivingsaid auxiliary generator and for operating the circuit controlling meansto establish an electrical circuit between said auxiliary generator andprimary winding during the cranking of the engine.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignitionsystem including a spark coil having primary and secondary windings, amain generator driven by the engine and connected with the primarywinding for the purpose of supplying current to said primary Windingonly when the engine is self-operating, an auxiliary generator adaptedto be operated only Yauxiliary generator while the engine is beingcranked, and for operating the circuit controlling means to switch thecurrent supply for said primary winding from said main generator to saidauxiliary generator.

e. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, anengine having` an ignition device including a spark coil; a maingenerator driven by the engine and adapted to supply current to thespark coil when the engine 1s self operating; an auxiliary generator; anengine -cranking device so constructed and arranged as to be connectiblewith the engine for cranking purposes and at the saine time operativelyconnected with the auxiliary generator to drive the same; and circuitcont-rolling means engaged by the cranking device when it is in crankingconnection with the engine, said circuit controlling means disconnectingthe main generator from the spark coil and connecting the auxiliarygenerator thereto during the cranking operation.

5. A device of the character' described, comprising in combination, anengine having a crank shaftextending therefrom; an ignition device forsaid engine, including a spark coil; a main generator driven by theengine; an auxiliary generator; driving connections for the auxiliarygenerator, including a driving member rotatably mounted on the extendingportion of the engine crank shaft; circuit controlling means connectedto both of said generators; and an engine cranking device adapted to bemoved into connection with the engine crank shaft for cranking purposesand concurrently connecting with the driving member of the auxiliarygenerator and at the sam-e time engaging the circuit controlling meansto disconnect the main generator from the spark coil and connect theauxiliary generator with said coil.

6. device of the character described, comprising in combination, anengine having a-crank shaft extending therefrom; an ignition device forsaid engine, including a spark coil; a main generator driven by theengine; an auxiliary generator; driving connections for auxiliarygenerator, including driving member rotatably mounted on the extendingportion of the engine crank shaft; circuit controlling means connectedto both of said: generators; and an engine cranking device adapted to bemoved into connection with the engine crank shaft for cranking purposesand concurrently connecting with the driving member of the auxiliarygenerator and at the same time engaging the circuit controlling means todisconnect the main generator from the spark coil and connect theauxiliary generator With said coil; said cranking device being providedwith means for disconnecting the same from the engine and the auxiliarygenerator driving member when the engine becomes self-operating wherebythe circuit connections between the main generator and the primarywindings of the ignition coils will again be established and the circuitconnections between said coil and auxiliary generatorl disconnected.

7. A device of the character described, comprising combination, anengine having an ignition device including a spark coil; a maingenerator driven by the engine and adapted to supply current to thespark coil whenl the engine is self-operating;` an auxiliary generator;a cranking device having a member movable into engagement with an enginepart'for cranking said engine means for drivingly connecting the engineand auxiliary generator, and rendered operative through the movement ofsaid movable member into engagement with the engine part; and a circuitcontroller actuated through the movementof said movable member forconnecting the auxiliary generator with the spark coil and disconnectingthe main generator from Said coil.

In testimony whereof We hereto aix our

